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Monday, January 5, 2015

2014 Annual Summary

2014 Annual Summary:

  Warning. This post is long winded as it is a summary of the year. The stats are up top. Stop after them if that's all you want. Otherwise you will get the good stuff! Much of this makes up for many missed blog posts over the year that should have been individual vs. this monster.

 Miles Run: 1717.7

Running Elevation Gain: 194,452'

Miles Biked: 1,389

Biking Elevation Gain: 52,550'

Hours Training: 403

# of Races:  9

 Race results:

  • November 1, 2014- Indian Creeks 50s 50k- DNF
  • September 12, 2014- Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile Tortoise, 30th Place, 28:09:25
  • August 23, 2014- Devil Mountain 50 Mile, 6th Place, 10:12:27
  • August 22, 2014- Schriever AFB Sprint Triathlon, 2nd Place, 1:02:09
  • August 17, 2014- Pikes Peak Marathon, 34th, 5:06:50 (Ascent 3:06:58), 10th Overall Triple Crown Series, 2nd in Age Group.
  • July 6, 2014- Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K, 27th Place, 54:16
  • June 21, 2014- San Juan Solstice 50 Mile, 64th Place, 12:30:31
  • June 8, 2014- Garden of The Gods Ten Miler, 149th Place1:16:31
  • May 3, 2014- Collegiate Peaks Trail Run 50 Mile, 51st Place, 11:21:15
  • March 15, 2014- Salida Run Through Time Marathon, 31st Place, 4:00:55

Reflection: The story of 2015

My First Full year of Ultra Running. What else can I say? Well lots actually. After running my first 50K last year at the Bear Chase Race, I was officially hooked. With help of Sherpa John LaCroix and the Human Potential Running Series through the early winter, I prepared myself for my path ahead.  At least I thought I did. With a strong January of 314 miles on track for a 3000 mile year, I was confident I would have a great year entering some 50 milers and on Pikes Peak Marathon. Then February came and I learned about Mr. Money Mustache. From reading about financial independence, I realized that I needed to kick my finances into gear as I do not want to be in debt forever nor do I want to work until social security retirement age. I would like to enjoy official extreme early retirement for the idea of freelance working, meaningful volunteering, extended family time, extra travel, and whatever else I want. After an all time high of an 84 mile week the first week of Feb, the training log doesn't lie as that must be when I discovered the Mustachian way since this is where my training dropped dramatically. At that point, I decided that I can't be driving across town multiple times per week for the sake of training since Mr. Money Mustache (AKA MMM) preaches to curb the clown like car habit to save money. In addition to cutting driving way down, ordering a commuter bike, and reducing several other bills such as cutting cable, dropping utilities by over 50% and many other things, my running came to a crashing halt. All in all we did pay off over 20K in debt for the year so that isn't a bad thing totally. Feb wasn't a horrible month as I ended up with 183 miles ran. Then enter March where I only ran less than 60 miles total and almost half was the Salida Run through Time Marathon. Surprisingly, I did alright in that marathon with being just 55 seconds over my goal. Problem is that my avg heart rate was something like l71 with my ascent half being around 185, it was clear I was under-trained and I paid the price afterwards in how sore I was. I still got 31st place out of a couple hundred where some big names really show up so that made me feel legit given my recent fall off the wagon with training.

While my running lacked in March, I did log over 250 miles on the bike as I began to commute to and from work even though I sold my beautiful Tacoma and got an older Prius and still put a couple grand in the bank towards debt.  While this was solid aerobic training, it was not run specific. With my April Miles being almost identical to March, I came to the Collegiate Peaks Trail Run in early May where I finished my first 50 miler.I did finish which is what counts with an ultra but it wasn't pretty... Check out that blog post here.

I should also note that a good part of my lack of training in April was due to my Job transition. I worked both jobs for a few weeks in transition and had hardly the time while still going to school for my masters. I also had to figure out new routine. This was necessary to maintain benefits and it was a nice chunk of change that allowed us to pay down enough of our stupid timeshare to sell the thing and become free of it forever! NEVER BUY A TIMESHARE! Lesson learned.

Not setting the tone well with training I still had to accomplish my next goal the San Juan Solstice as my only other planned race for the year. I was going to give up racing until I was debt free and wasn't even going to do Pikes Peak but I did sign up for this one. After passing up the Pikes Peak registration opportunity early in the year, I later learned (on the last day possible) that I could still get into the Pikes Peak Marathon through the Triple Crown which is a local series consisting of the Garden of the Gods Ten Miler, The Summer Round Up 12K, and the finale being either the Pikes Peak Ascent or the Marathon (only counting the Ascent portion for the series). Ultimately, this race is an easier in for locals who are around all summer since normal registration fills up so fast due to it being such a popular race. This could be my chance to better myself from last year although being a couple months behind on training. One would think that or the next month that I may have trained hard for the GoG 10 miler. Actually, I dropped biking almost completely and only ran minimally. Later, in the month of May, I took a fast hike adventure up some 12ers in Lost Creek Wilderness (Bison Peak and McCurdy Mountain) and another 35 mile mostly running loop up there but no significant speed training. Somehow, I still improved my Garden of the Gods Ten Miler by a couple minutes from the year prior. Thank you base! Another year of running under my belt helped tons as I had only a few months the year prior. You can see I worked hard to earn that time though with my 191 average heart rate. That's insane! I was hoping for sub 1:10 before training dropped but I am still happy with my 1:16:31. As you can see from the picture, I got this one with some sweat equity!

For the next couple of weeks in June, I only ran 3 times (all 10 miles are less) and didn't bike at all and went for the San Juan Solstice 50 Miler. Holy crap, I must be a real idiot thinking I can stroll into one of the hardest 50 mile races in the world and hardly train. Now wonder my results were the way they were. I already knew that I could walk the better part of 50 miles and I had tons of elevation training in the past while I nailed all 58 of the Colorado 14ers but dang. My results were stellar considering I was pretty much off the couch. Another I need to come back and get revenge when I am properly trained I guess. I ended up with 64th Place in 12:30:31. It should be noted that this race sees roughly 250 starters and about 100 didn't even finish this year. Just finishing this one makes me feel good. See posting here.

I recovered the following week by bike commuting every day. Then came the week of my next triple crown race, the Summer Round Up 12K Trail Race. The week of the race, I had some hard runs where I really pushed myself. The result: I had a dang good race. My time was 54:16 which was a 12 minute improvement from the year prior (I had a groin injury last year and was happy to even be running the race). They did change the course but still? Wow. And that was after a night of mildly heavy drinking for my Anniversary... My average pace in this was faster than the GoG 10 the month prior and there was more climbing and I had to walk much of the first half mile in the gaggle as the trail choked. I went from 10th Place to 5th place for Triple Crown in my age group in this one race and actually got the second fastest age group time for Triple Crown and 27th place overall. This shows my strength is not road miles but once climbing enters. At almost 2 months to Pikes Peak Marathon, I had some work to do yet as I desired to move from 5th place in the triple crown to top 3 as well as get under 5 hours for the Marathon. Didn't bike much the rest of july but did 140ish in Aug before the race. After a light week recovery from the race, I picked it up heavy as we went to our beach vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I ran every day and most days on the beach with a solid week. 

 Upon return from over a week at sea level, I ran a full round trip of Pikes Peak the very next day. Although running hard at sea level, returning to altitude and trying to perform proved tough. While I made it, it was a slow day. With a moving time of 6:21 and quite a break at the summit, I was leary of a sub 5 a couple weeks away. Just over a week later, I got another chance for a full round trip in 5:37 with another good rest at the top. Vast improvement in just one week with solid days in between and at the time I got, I felt like I wasn't 100% effort and had a decent shot at breaking the big 5 hour number on race day just 2 weeks away. The next 2 weeks, I began to taper mileage but maintained consistency for running and biking. A week out, I went up and did 3 miles down from the summit to A frame at a bolstering descent pace in a bit of snow up high and then the 3 back up trying not to over do it but simulating race day intensity of having run from the start to A-Frame. Race day came and I felt awesome. No strep throat this year baby. After hanging out at the summit on the day prior to view the Ascent with my son, I reviewed the numbers for my age groupers for the triple crown. I was going to need to beat my buddy Brian Wilfong's stellar time of 3:18:44 on the ascent which was faster than my last year's ascent of 3:26 and I still have to run down after. Feeling confident in this goal, I looked at who else was ahead. To get 3rd place still I was going to have to beat Adam Christians and close a gap of 5:18 that he got on me at the Garden of The Gods although I beat him on the Summer Roundup by about a minute. Looking at second place, I would have to make up a 14 minute disparity to Michael Gallegos to secure 2nd place. Seeing his rocking times smashing me at the GoG 10 miler and still beating me at the Summer Roundup, I didn't see a chance there. So it was settled, I was gunning for 3rd in the Triple Crown series for the Male 30-34 age group. How cool would that be to place despite my lack of training this year? Then, on ascent day, Michael ran a 3:19:26 which was slower than I was expecting him to. Suddenly, there was more pressure for me to push for second. If I could get a 3:05:05 or better for the ascent, I could secure this but it was going to be tough. I had a goal to be sub 3 Hour on the ascent and sub 5 round trip so it was going to be close given my lack of training early on. A lot of things can go either way on race day in a mountain race like this. See my blog posting about the race here.

Here is a compilation of some after race shots my wife got.

So I know you are waiting to hear. Did I make the 3:05:05 to hopefully secure second in the Triple Crown for age group hoping that Adam Christians or someone else behind me before didn't have a surprisingly good race to throw things off? Well at 23rd place in the Marathon to the summit, my time was unfortunately 3:06:58. I was short by just under 2 minutes. But hey I was proud. I beat last year's ascent by about 20 minutes. Looking at triple crown times, It appears pretty rare to run GOG 10 as slow as I did and move up as much as I did as far as Ascent time. Pretty big gap for people with my GOG time and where they finish Pikes Peak 30-60 minutes slower. 


With a total triple crown time of 5:17:45, It was good enough for 10th overall and smoked my total of 5:51:09 the year prior. It turns out I got second in age group after all due to technicalities. Neil McDonagh ended up in the top 5 so they pulled him out of age group leaving me to second instead of 3rd just to Michael Gallegos by less than 2 minutes. Getting him by over 12 minutes on the Ascent was not enough to make up for the disparity from the GoG 10 and my lack of early season training. Hats off to Michael for his smoking GoG time!

Ok enough of Pikes Peak. There is far more to the year than this one awesome race. Feeling great the day after the race and approaching the deadline for the Devil Mountain 50 miler just six days after, I decided to pull the trigger. I wanted this race last year but the timing didn't work out and I am glad after the fact that it didn't. I ended up with my great experience at the bear chase and would have gotten my butt royally spanked at Devil Mountain. This year I was ready. A couple of days running and biking recovery, and a couple of ten milers, I actually sneaked in a sprint Triathlon at Schriever on the Friday after the Marathon that was just on Sunday. I beat my time from the 2 years prior when I first started my running and ended up getting second place overall. After absolutely zero swim training, I was last one out of the pool in my heat and worried for the outcome of that race. I was so fast in transition in my state of worry, I had already passed at least four folks there and raced off on the bike to pass all but the first place guy within the first few miles on the bike. Coming in after the bike, I slipped on the running shoes and threw down a 22:34 5K even after the tire of swimming and biking. Was so glad to have my wife and son there watching and cheering me on. What a day. Immediately after, I went home, showered, packed, kissed the family goodbye and headed out for Pagosa Springs for the race. Find my blog posting here.  For being so close to Pikes Peak and having a sprint tri the day before, my results turned out quite well with an overall time of 10:12.

 

Immediately after Devil Mountain, I still felt great and that my fitness was at a good point considering the recent history. While partially worried about injury (although I did feel awesome), I decided I had one more big race in me for the year. Looking at what was available, I set my eyes on the Run Rabbit Run 100. Why can't 50 be enough? Shouldn't I save the 100 mile adventure for something to think about in the future and work towards. Was I really ready? Looking at the Run Rabbit Run race, they have Tortoises which the general mid pack runner runs and they have Hares for the competitive bunch competing for the largest known ultra running prize purse if $10k. Unfortunately, the tortoise spots were full. The only option was Hare. Looking at the 106 mile course with 21,000' elevation gain, I was relatively sure I could still at least make the cutoffs for the 30 hour time limit for the hares even though I wouldn't come close to placing or winning. I just didn't want the cutoff stress for my first hundy as they call it so I emailed Fred, the race director, and asked about getting a tortoise slot. He said just put in on the waiting list and I will get in, so that I did with less than 2 weeks to go before the race. I did so much prep, studying and planning in that short of time to prepare. It is amazing how many more logistics have to go into 100 miles when you are running through the night. You have to think about where to put warm clothing to have it when you need, where to have headlamps, where your crew will meet you, roughly when they should meet you etc. So many parts. I would say for my first go, I was pretty successful at 28 hours although I think my goal may have been 25 or 26 with a stronger goal of actually just finishing but I was so glad I ended up going for it. What a rewarding experience to finish my first hundy and that of a mountain one that is respectable enough to qualify for the Hard Rock 100.

I took off a week completely after the 100 race to get my body feeling mostly normal except for a knot in my shin that lingered for a couple of weeks. After the first couple days of hobbling around, I focused on doing more walking than normal. The following week, I did some short distance stuff and biking and then somewhere in there I just so happened to be the 900th person to like the Human Potential Running Series Facebook Page and thus got a Free entry to the Indian Creek 50's on 1 November. I was tempted to just not accept as I was planning on a nice break the rest of the year and was even hoping to possibly give the entry to Neeraj as a thanks for pacing me at RRR but he was unavailable. In hindsight, I should have asked to defer the entry to another year and just volunteer. Anyhow, I couldn't resist as Indian Creek has a special place in my heart where I fostered my love for mountain biking in high school back in the days and really love the area. That week was also when I crashed my bike hard one late night around 11 PM on the way home from work transitioning from a dirt road on a curve to paved. I showed up at the front door all bloody on one shoulder and knee with a throbbing wrist and bleeding hands even though I had gloves and had to have my wife get me all cleaned up. In January I still have major scarring on my shoulder and hands from this traumatic event. I even had rash on my face. The following week, I put in 50 miles with even a full 20 miler long run and felt great although my wrist was bothering me. Then it sank in that my wrist was really actually injured. The next 3 weeks I only ran 2 times as I did not want to risk tripping and hurting myself first. This should be when I definitely dropped from the Indian Creek race but I am too hard headed. This by far was my lowest and most depressing time of the year. I at least knew I was only going for 50K and not 50 miles and was going to enjoy a "short" day. Well... 3 weeks is a long time to not run at all and you lose fitness fast. I began the first climb of the race at a conservative pace and then kind of hammered the downhill (where I did trip twice and catch myself on the bum wrist) and next climb I pushed harder than I should have to the first aid station. My legs were already twinging by 8 miles. Then by 12 miles, I was reduced to already walking a lot. I was already feeling awful. Steve Bremner convinced me to continue through the 15 mile aid station where the cars were and just get into the second loop a few miles before I made up my mind. Walking into the aid station, I knew I was doomed and hardly felt like going back out but I didn't want to quit. So many different emotions went through my head as I went back out just hoping this would pass. I wasn't injured, I was just out of shape and did not feel like being there. I walked/ran the next few miles downhill and began the next climb. I got to mile 18 and still didn't feel any different. I didn't think I had another 13 miles in me to make 50k and I was sure Sherpa John packed in a few extra for padding for the day. I just wasn't feeling it so I decided I was done. I began my walk back up and out as many other racers behind me were still pressing on. Here is how awesome the ultra community is... Not a single person said anything negative or made some snide remark or comment which I was fully expecting but I guess since Sherpa was the director, he couldn't be out there to do this job lol. We like to give each other a hard time in good fun. As I continued to leisurely walk back up the long hill I tried to rationalize my failure. I already ran 100 miles this year and I completed the San Juan Solstice, so I have nothing to prove to anyone I thought. Even then it was still rather humiliating as I saw even the girl in the Pizza slice costume with a bloody bandaged knee was going to finish the course. Coming in the last half mile I saw Sherpa John there trying to ensure everyone had finished the first loop. He looked so puzzled as how can someone be coming back up this way. Was there something wrong? Was somebody hurt on the course? Nope! It's just my vagina I said to him. We walked back into the aid/Start/Finish together where he cordially gave me some whiskey along with a good hard time! all in good fun of course. There I decided it was too cold to just sit and mope as I waited for my carpool so I volunteered the rest of the day by checking in runners and assisting with the aid station as well as drinking beer and spiked hot cocoa. I met more new friends there for always a good time. I am going to have to come back and give this race a more serious go another year for sure. Overall a kind of a bummer of a day but a DNF is a DNF. Now I got my DNF cherry popped and out of my system.I will say that Sherpa John puts on a first class event that exceeds the expectations of any normal ultra in every way. If you want to seek adventure and be challenged with elevation gain, his races are for you. You will learn as I have to use his name as a curse word in your normal vocabulary :)

The remainder of November, I only ran and cycled a handful of times as I recovered this time emotionally from my racing season finally taking a full break both physically and emotionally from running. I also gained 10 lbs during this time since RRR until 1 Dec where I decided it was time to finally get back into the saddle with only one solid week that was 2 weeks after RRR. In those 2 months since the hundred I only logged about 150 running which is about 75 per month and about the same amount of miles on the bike. As December rolled in, it was time to start looking towards 2015. I put in right away for the coveted Hard Rock 100 Lottery and the obligatory Western States 100 Lottery with only about 2% chance of getting in either one. My backup plan was going to be the Leadville Leadman series which is a series of about 6 races that include running and mountain biking and includes the infamous Leadville 100 MTB and concludes with the Race Across the Sky, Leadville 100 Run.  As December progressed, I did my best to get back into a regular running routine. I started the month strong with a 50 mile week. Wanting to ease in, I backed off a bit the second week and took advantage of some unseasonably nice weather for December to commute to work on the bike a couple of nights and then did the Sawmill Fatass where Julian Smith tried to convince me to pace him at Hard Rock rather than do Leadman which has the Silver rush 50s on the same weekend and and then do Fat Dog 120 in Canada as my race since I didn't get in to Hard Rock or Western States. I seriously pondered this option as it would be cheaper and wouldn't involve bike races or nearly as much dedication in training. It also would have yielded me a chance to experience 2/3 of the Hard Rock course for free and learn what is all about and test my body in a new way over 120 miles along with make some serious effort at Nolans 14. Ultimately, I decided that I had to do Leadman. While a generous offer by Julian, I have Leadville beckoning my name and signed up on 1 Jan the very first day. The following few weeks, I averaged 50 MPW with elevation gain averaging at around 5,000'. Realistically, I can't expect much higher elevation numbers as I live on the plains and have to drive 45 min to get elevation unless I get awarded with a Fatass run. My goal is typically to get one good long trail run with elevation gain per week as well as the incline once a week for my gain and the rest of the training can be wherever. Getting back to this 50 mile base should set me up for success to really get serious about Leadman with a slow ramp up. By the 31st of December, I find that I am not where I was last year at the same time as far as fitness. I measure this by my Maximum Aerobic Function Heartrate of 155 using the Dr. Maffetone formulas. I am 30-45 seconds slower per flat mile at the same heartrate that I was a year ago but I am not worried since I know I had the late season hiatus. My body is handling getting back into the swing spectacularly and now I just have to figure out where to begin sprinkling in biking. While Leadman is a lofty goal for 2015 and the primary goal will be to finish the darn thing, my larger goal will be to Big Buckle in both 100 mile events. This has only been done a couple of times ever and in recent years so it's a large challenge that I am wanting to push for. Big buckle means finishing the 100 MTB in under 9 hours vs the 12 hr limit and under 25 hours for the run vs. the 30 hour limit. The focus of my training will be running as I think the run is where the Leadman is really won or lost. I will rely on a long base of technical biking skills as I have been mountain biking since age 13 and my aerobic fitness provided by running using biking for recovery as I currently do with a few focus weeks on the bikes around the times of the bike races. I have also decided to do a couple of other bike races prior to so I can figure out the ins and outs of bike racing since I never raced before. I would also like to incorporate mixed workouts such as biking to a long run and back home (time provided) or doing a trail run and then biking the same course. The bike crowd seems a little more elitist from what I see and not as relaxed as the ultra crowd but I guess there is only one way to find out!

2015 Goals

Miles Run: 2500

Running Elevation Gain: 275,000'

Miles Biked: 2500

Biking Elevation Gain: 100,000'

Hours Training: 500

Racing Goals:

 

  • March 14, 2015- Salida Run Through Time Marathon- Salida, CO- My goal here will be same as last year. Break 4:00 but hopefully break the 3:45 mark.
  • April 25, 2015 Ridge Line Rampage 50 Mile MTB, Castle Rock, CO. This race is tentative but I think it would be good to get me focused on the bike early to see what is going on and evaluate my training plan. Only goal would be to finish. 
  • May 2, 2015- Collegiate Peaks Trail Run 50 Mile- Buena Vista, CO. This race is my chance to show what I can do when I train consistently and boost my confidence for the season. Goal is to break my 50 Mile PR of 10:12 from the Devil Mountain race with 3K more elevation gain. Shooting somewhere in the 8-9 hour range for a finish time.
  • May 30, 2015- PV Cycle Derby 66 Mi MTB, Elbert, CO- Another tentative bike race. This one is too close to home to skip. A good biking test far enough from any important races to improve upon what I learn at the other race. Also a forced distance ride although it probably won't have near the elevation gain that Leadville gets. 
  • June 14, 2015- Garden of the Gods Ten Mile, Colorado Springs, CO- If I am free this week, this may be a good taper race for the First leadman the following week. This is somewhat tentative but I would love to be under 1:10 for this race. 
  • June 20, 2015 Leadville Trail Marathon- Leadville, CO- First leadman race. Seeing as though only one leadman ever has ran a sub 4 hour, I suspect I would not be able to either. The race is also less than Pikes Peak so I will be shooting for 4:30 for my goal which is very respectable for a Leadman.
  • July 11, 2015- Leadville Silver Rush 50 Mile MTB, Leadville, CO- The silver rush 50s are not both required for Leadman. You only have to do one but I took on the additional Silver King challenge to do these races back to back on consecutive days. I think a realistic goal for this race would be 5:30. I want to use it to get a good corral position for the 100 MTB as well as experience some of the 100 course and trail types.
  • July 12, 2015- Leadville Silver Rush 50 Mile Run, Leadville CO- Second Silver King race here. I would love to break 9 hours but even 9:30 would be awesome. Would be cool to at least match my CPTR time since that was earlier in the season but easier.
  • July 19, 2015- Barr Trail Mountain Race- Manitou Springs, CO. Gotta love a hometown race. Since I train so much here, it may be fun last minute if I feel ok from Silver rush. This is a definite maybe though.This weekend may be better spent at higher elevations.
  • August 15, 2015 Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Leadville, CO. The goal on this race is to have fun and also hopefully big Buckle in under 9 Hours.
  • August 16, 2015- Climax Molybdenum Leadville 10K Run, Leadville, CO. 5th race for Leadman and day after the 100 MTB on Jelly legs. I don't really have heavy goals for this race. Under 50 minutes is about all. 43 Min would be a solid time at the altitude on those legs but no need to blow out 6 days prior to the 100 Run.
  • August 22, 2015- Leadville Trail 100 Run, Leadville, CO. Not only do I want to big buckle in this race, I have big plans. With my focus being on running, this is where I want to kick it into gear. I think it is well within possibility to run under 22 hours if I stay consistent with training. Even a 24 would probably land me top 5. Overall, my goals for leadman are probably somewhat unrealistic as achieving them would place me in the top 3 and I don't know that I am really at that level based on my performances this year. In my rookie super optimistic mind, I feel like it is possible though. Better get strict with the training in 2015 and really lock it down early!
Sept through Dec- I hope to get one more hundy under my belt for the year as if one isn't enough. Thinking about going back to Steamboat in even better shape but it may be too close to Leadville. Also thinking about Bear 100 as well as getting revenge at Indian Creek. We shall see how my body holds up but I'm not committing to anything for this time frame until after Leadville is over. No need to pay race fees for a race I may not get to do.

Lastly, I plan on doing some ultra volunteering this year. If you are a RD or know a RD that is looking for volunteers for Colorado Races, hit me up. Maybe I can help! With all of these lofty goals, I will also be wrapping up my masters degree in Systems Engineering in May as well as enjoying my son grow up as much as I possibly can. Oh and since I am doing all this racing and whatnot and am not financially independent yet, I am going to still have to work full time. A wholly separate goal but since we have learned to live off much less than we used to, I would love to see us knock out another $24K of debt aside from normal payments on the house.  This means I may not get to eat as low carb as I want lol because carbs are cheap.

Thanks to reading and I look forward to an exciting year.

See you at the top!


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